Agricultural News

Rural and Agricultural Groups Oppose Big Airlines' Push to Privatize Nation's Air Traffic Control System

Thu, 06 Apr 2017 09:59:08 CDT

Today, the Agriculture Retailers Association, Alliance for Aviation Across America, Crop Life America, League of Rural Voters , National Agricultural Aviation Association, National Council of Agricultural Employers, National Farmers Union, National Grange of the Patrons of Husbandry, National Women in Agriculture Association, and USA Rice Federation released a letter urging Congress to oppose privatization of our nation’s air traffic control system. The proposal to privatize air traffic control is being pushed predominantly by the big, commercial airlines, and would take air traffic control away from Congressional oversight and put it under the purview of a private board of mostly commercial interests. The board would direct everything from taxes and fees, to airport investments and access.

The letter comes as the US Senate Commerce Committee is holding a hearing today entitled, FAA Reauthorization: Perspectives on Rural Air Service and the General Aviation Community.

According to the letter:

“Rural communities, agriculture and small businesses stand to lose the most under a privatized system, where there would be no Congressional oversight to ensure that all stakeholders and communities have access to air transportation… Under a privatized system, a private board dominated by the largest commercial operators would undoubtedly direct resources and investments to the largest hub airports and urban areas where these investments would be most likely to benefit their bottom line.”

This group rural and agricultural organizations joins a growing number of voices raising concerns about the proposal to privatize the air traffic control system, including local elected officials, consumer advocates, free market groups, major Committees in Congress, chambers of commerce, small businesses, and the American voters.

As you debate reauthorization of Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) in the coming months, I write to ask for your support of a long-term FAA authorization that maintains Congressional oversight of the nation’s air traffic control system. We are specifically concerned that a recent proposal in Congress to remove oversight of the nation’s air traffic control system, and put this vital infrastructure under the control of a private entity dominated by the commercial airlines, threatens the vital infrastructure that we count on every day.

Rural communities, agriculture and small businesses stand to lose the most under a privatized system, where there would be no Congressional oversight to ensure that all stakeholders and communities have access to air transportation. For example, there are over 5,000 airports across the United States, over 3,300 of which are public-use airports. Yet, there is only commercial service at 509 airports, and airline capacity is dwindling - by about 20 percent in recent years in particular. That means that for the majority of our communities around the country, small airports and general aviation are a literal lifeline to local communities, industries and businesses.

These airport and businesses support local economies and agriculture, connect businesses with far-off plants and customers, and facilitate access to many services, including medical care, disaster relief, organ and blood transport, law enforcement, search-and-rescue, and fire-fighting. They help our businesses stay connected, repair power lines, help farms to survey and protect their crops and allow companies to reach plants in remote areas of the country, among many other uses. In fact, each year, the agricultural aviation industry treats 71 million acres of cropland, out of the 408 million acres of cropland in the United States.

Yet, under a privatized system, a private board dominated by the largest commercial operators would undoubtedly direct resources and investments to the largest hub airports and urban areas where these investments would be most likely to benefit their bottom line. They could also shape and influence the system in many other ways to their benefit, including by leveraging many new fees and taxes, reducing access to airports for lower cost competitors and impeding access to particular airports. It is also unclear how important programs such as the Airport Improvement Program (AIP) would fare, which provide long-term funding in the form of federal grants to both large and small airports around the country, which are a lifeline to local communities and economies.

Agriculture, small businesses and rural communities are the backbone of our nation, and we need to protect our public infrastructure which ensures access to air transportation for communities of all sizes. Please say no to a privatized air traffic control system.

Sincerely,

Agriculture Retailers Association
Alliance for Aviation Across America
Crop Life America
League of Rural Voters
National Agricultural Aviation Association
National Council of Agricultural Employers
National Farmers Union
National Grange of the Patrons of Husbandry
National Women in Agriculture Association
USA Rice Federation